Tyson-Lewis Bout In Jeopardy After Yesterday's Antics

A "precedent-setting" HBO-Showtime PPV heavyweight title bout featuring Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis "might be in jeopardy after a melee broke out" at a Tyson-Lewis news conference yesterday in N.Y. to announce the bout, according to Jim McConville of the HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. HBO and Showtime execs "could not be reached for comment after repeated calls." If the PPV bout takes place, HBO and Showtime said that they "will use a neutral announcing team," as Tyson is under contract with Showtime and Lewis is with HBO. The "pay network with the winning fighter will get to re-air the fight  likely the following week  and will pay the losing network an estimated" $3M (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 1/23). In N.Y., Bob Raissman, noting Tyson instigated the ruckus, writes, "What is truly unbelievable is how Showtime brass can continue to be [Tyson's] prime financial backer while swallowing Tyson's garbage. Showtime suits control the purse strings. ... Are the honchos so convinced about the financial upside their relationship with Tyson has that they tolerate the kind of behavior he exhibited yesterday?" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 1/23).